Home Agriculture in the UAE: Community Initiatives Reinforcing Sustainability and Food Self-Sufficiency
Home agriculture has emerged as a significant driver of sustainability and food self-sufficiency in the United Arab Emirates, aligning with a national sustainability campaign aimed at raising awareness about environmental sustainability issues. The UAE has solidified its commitment to local agriculture through regulated and supportive legislation, encouraging community-driven initiatives that offer innovative solutions in the realm of home farming. Collaborating with international research institutions, the nation is also pioneering inventive approaches to agricultural production and water desalination. Notably, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has commended the UAE's efforts in promoting community agriculture and its role in preserving the environment within the framework of sustainability.
In a notable move, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has established a specialized guidance garden that showcases over 80 local plant species. Government entities have increased their purchases of locally produced food items, with the goal of reaching 100% local product procurement by 2030.
Abu Dhabi, October 19th - Food security is a critical priority in the United Arab Emirates, with strategic plans and practical programs dedicated to fulfilling this requirement. The nation has harnessed the collective power of its society to fulfill these plans, achieving food self-sufficiency and solidifying the concept of food sustainability. All the while, it leverages all available resources to engage all members of society.
Agriculture stands as a cornerstone of food self-sufficiency, and it has been a top priority for the UAE over its five-decade history as a nation, with its founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, laying the foundation for this goal. However, the focus wasn't limited to large-scale agricultural projects at the national level. It also encompassed community-driven initiatives in home farming as key drivers of sustainability and accelerating food self-sufficiency.
Home gardening or converting available spaces in buildings into small production units contributes to economic, social, and environmental sustainability, fostering a comprehensive sustainability system within the society. These community initiatives, aimed at promoting home agriculture, align with the goals of the "Impact" pillar of the "National Sustainability" campaign, recently launched in preparation for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which will take place from November 30th to December 12th of the current year in Expo 2020 Dubai.
The campaign aims to promote positive environmental behaviors and increase awareness of environmental sustainability issues, encouraging community participation. Meanwhile, the "Impact" pillar highlights the positive results and effects of UAE sustainability initiatives across various sectors.